[CELEB] IVE member An Yu-jin shows she has it all in 'Earth Arcade' game show

K-pop

Published: 22 Aug. 2022, 15:57 Updated: 23 Aug. 2022, 13:16

[CELEB] IVE member An Yu-jin shows she has it all in 'Earth Arcade' game show

Singer An Yu-jin performs "Love Dive" with members of her girl group IVE [NEWS1]

Wit, vocals, dance moves and looks — An Yu-jin has it all.

The 18-year-old K-pop star is making her mark as a variety program icon through the ongoing tvN game show “Earth Arcade.” She is also set to return to the stage on Monday evening as the leader of one of the country’s hottest girl groups, IVE.

“Earth Arcade” centers on the show's four members who go on a 10-day trip to Thailand and are given various missions and challenges throughout their trip. They must complete these missions in order to enjoy activities and food.

From left, Mimi, Lee Young-ji, An Yu-jin and Lee Eun-ji pose for a selfie on the set of tvN's ongoing game show "Earth Arcade" [INSTAGRAM SCREEN CAPTURE]

Although the program follows the common game show concept often seen on Korean television, it is unique in that the members are all relatively lesser-known, young female celebrities with no famous comedian leading the group.

The oldest member, comedian Lee Eun-ji, is 30 years old. Rapper Lee Young-ji is 20 years old. Mimi, a member of girl group Oh My Girl, is 27.

The creative mind behind the show is Na Young-seok. Na is a local television producer who is behind popular entertainment programs such as early seasons of KBS’s “2 Days & 1 Night” (2007-), tvN’s “Three Meals a Day” (2014-21) and tvN’s “New Journey to the West” (2015-).

From left, Lee Eun-ji, Mimi, Lee Young-ji and An Yu-jin on set of tvN's ongoing travel game show "Earth Arcade" [TVN]

An has become a new icon in the entertainment industry through her role in “Earth Arcade.” She has had experience on variety shows before, appearing as a guest on shows such as SBS’s “My Little Old Boy” (2016-) and MBC’s “The Manager” (2017-), and sitting in as a regular panel on Season 2 of Channel A’s “The Iron Squad” (2022) and a host of SBS’s “Inkigayo” (1991-). However, “Earth Arcade” is credited as the show that has most successfully captured An’s sense of wit and humor.

Since the game show's premiere, she has become the most talked about celebrity in a non-drama series, according to Good Data Corporation’s rankings for the second week of August, released on Aug. 17. The rankings by Good Data Corporation are assembled through analyzing the public responses toward new content for one week through various social media channels and news outlets.

The public dubbed her the “entertainment industry's gem” of the year discovered by producer Na.

“Earth Arcade” airs every Friday at 8:50 p.m. on cable channel tvN.

An Yu-jin, middle, performs ″Love Dive″ (2022) with members of girl group IVE during the group's showcase in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on April 5, 2022. [NEWS1]

An is also set to return to her main job as a K-pop star on Monday as her girl group IVE will release its third EP “After LIKE.”

The EP contains two songs — the title track and "My Satisfaction."

“After LIKE” comes five months after its last release, “Love Dive.”

“Love Dive” was a megahit in the K-pop sphere both domestically and among K-pop fans abroad. Its music video surpassed 130 million views on YouTube, and stayed on the Billboard Global 200 and the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts for 18 consecutive weeks.

An Yu-jin in footage from Mnet's 2018 K-pop survival program "Produce 48" [SCREEN CAPTURE OF MNET'S PRODUCE 48]

An made her debut in 2018 through the project girl group IZ*ONE after placing fifth in the cable channel Mnet's 2018 K-pop female survival show "Produce 48." IVE member Wonyoung was also part of IZ*ONE as she placed in the top 12 of the survival program. When IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021 as per the group's contract, An joined as a member of girl group IVE.

IVE debuted in December 2021 with "Eleven," a single that sold 152,229 copies in the first week of its release, according to Hanteo Chart. It was the most copies sold by a debuting artist in Korea in 2021. The music video for "Eleven" also garnered more than 35 million views on YouTube within four days of its upload.

The group consists of members An Yu-jin, Gaeul, Rei, Wonyoung, Liz and Leeseo.

Singer An Yu-jin [STARSHIP ENTERTAINMENT]

An Yu-jin

Date of Birth: Sept. 1, 2003
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Daejeon
Debut: October 2018 as a member of project girl group IZ*ONE
Agency: Starship Entertainment

An Yu-jin debuted as a K-pop singer through a project girl group IZ*ONE in October 2018, after placing in the top 12 in cable channel Mnet’s K-pop female survival show “Produce 48.” The group released hits such as “La Vie En Rose” (2018), “Secret Story of the Swan” (2020) and “Panorama” (2020), before disbanding in April 2021. An went on to join her entertainment agency’s new girl group IVE in December 2021 through the EP “Eleven.” In April, the group released its second EP “Love Dive” and on Aug. 22, the group released its third EP “After LIKE.” An is the leader of the sextet. She is also a permanent member of tvN’s ongoing variety show “Earth Arcade.”

This information was confirmed by Starship Entertainment on Aug. 17, 2022.

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]